Dr Donkor Receives Prestigious African Development Finance Leadership Award
The President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), Dr George Agyekum Donkor, has been named recipient of the Distinguished African Development Finance Leadership Award – Regional Integration and Economic Transformation at the 16th African Business Leadership Awards (ABLA) 2026.
The honour, to be conferred by the African Leadership Organisation (UK) Limited and the Editorial Board of African Leadership Magazine, recognises Dr Donkor’s outstanding leadership and significant contribution to strengthening West Africa’s development finance landscape.
The award follows a rigorous merit-based evaluation process and acknowledges Dr Donkor’s role in positioning EBID as a key driver of regional integration, infrastructure development, enterprise growth and economic transformation across the ECOWAS sub-region.
In recognition of its growing influence in Africa’s development agenda, EBID has also been designated as a Strategic Development Finance Partner of the ALM Africa Summit 2026.
Dr Donkor is expected to receive the award on July 3, 2026, at the historic House of Lords in London, United Kingdom, where he will also serve as Special Guest of Honour and Keynote Speaker. The summit will be held under the theme, “From Vision to Velocity: Driving Africa’s Next Wave of Growth and Leadership.”
According to the award citation, Dr Donkor’s leadership has successfully bridged policy, capital mobilisation and project execution, enabling EBID to connect national development priorities with global investment opportunities.
The Editorial Board commended his efforts in mobilising both concessional and commercial capital, advancing blended finance mechanisms and strengthening financial systems to support sustainable economic growth across West Africa.
Reacting to the recognition, Dr Donkor described the award as a collective achievement.
“This recognition is not only personal but a tribute to the dedication of the entire EBID team, our Member States and development partners who share the vision of a prosperous and integrated West Africa,” he said.
He noted that the honour reinforces the Bank’s commitment to promoting inclusive finance, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, advancing women-led businesses and financing critical infrastructure to drive long-term economic competitiveness.
As part of the event, Dr Donkor will participate in a high-level panel discussion alongside Heads of State, ministers, central bank governors, sovereign investors, development finance leaders and multinational business executives. He is also scheduled to hold an exclusive engagement with selected members of the UK House of Lords.
The African Business Leadership Awards is regarded as one of the continent’s leading platforms for leadership recognition and investment dialogue. The 2026 edition is expected to attract more than 400 senior delegates from across Africa and beyond, providing opportunities for strategic partnerships, investment alignment and policy engagement.
Dr Donkor has earned several international distinctions over the years. Among them are the Development Champion Award presented at the Rebranding Africa Forum in Brussels, Belgium, in 2023, and the Prix de la Foundation Award received at the Crans Montana Forum in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2022. He has also been listed for four consecutive years among the 100 personalities transforming Africa by Financial Afrik.
About EBID
The ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), headquartered in Lomé, Togo, is the development finance institution of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The Bank finances projects and programmes in sectors including infrastructure, rural development, environmental sustainability, industry and social services through both public and private sector operations. Its interventions include long, medium and short-term financing, equity participation, lines of credit, refinancing, financial engineering and advisory services.
